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I was thinking, what kind of audiences do most people prefer
- Adults or Children ?

Children could get silly and muck around whilst not paying attention

Adults could take it more seriously but have more comon sence so couldwork out the secrets

Add your vote to the poll

For me - it depends on who I'm performing for. Either audience can make the performance memorable. I was going to start a thread about my weekend, since it was a real high point for me, but I think it can lend itself to this topic.

My grandmother just turned 90 this past weekend (a magical feat, I think) and I agreed to do some stuff throughout the party - mostly family but quite a few friends and total strangers. I was in hog heaven. Everything just clicked for me. I was cool, collected - my handling was flowing like water. I know there are literally thousands of magicians who make me look like a bumbling amateur - but this night I felt like Dai Vernon himself.

Each effect or reaction just built my confidence more and more. I found myself just slamming through tricks I had always been a bit hesitant to perform. Things I wasn't sure I had down, I was nailing. It was just the perfect day for me.

Which brings me to the question and point of this thread.

I had a table of adults hooting and screaming with some card work. And I also managed to keep a group of kids under 5 in awe with just a simple ear plugs routine. No advanced work, just playing around. As it got darker - out came the d'lites. Work them in with a quick sponge ball routine and the kids were jumping all over the place.

I liked being able to work between the two groups, really. It was nice to be able to pull the attentions of all age groups in any direction I wanted. Adults would watch me with the children and while they enjoyed their reactions the most, I heard more than a few "where the hell are those sponge things coming from?"

It's an amazing feeling, when things go well. I can't decide which was better for me. I enjoyed it all. Puzzling the adults - making them wonder, curse, throw outlandish guesses at me in the hopes of figuring out how their card ended up on the hamburger under the bun. But I have to say the reactions from children make it all worth it.

Adults can suspend disbelief - they can willingly go along for the ride. In the end they know I tricked them somehow - but they had fun and that's all that mattered. But children... they still see the magic. I'm not fooling them or palming something - that sponge was really stuck all the way up their ears. They smile, scream and dance - tugging at their earlobes, begging me to find just one more!

To be honest - I don't think I could do A LOT of kids shows, and I respect the hell out of guys and girls who do them for a living. I tend to stick to adult spectators. Before this weekend, I may have said adults hands-down... but now....I'm on the fence.

When you get that perfect audience. The mix of people who are willing to forget that it's not real, and the ones who haven't figured that out yet.... and it's an awesome feeling.

So, pick your poison and get out there. I would say if your work revolves more around card effects (advanced routines and storyline type effects) I'd say stick with adults. Children can be amazed by card tricks, but they generally have shorter attention spans, and some tricks can confuse them. If you're a more visual, close-up style performer - kids are probably your best route. You can entertain children with a few sponge balls and a silk for DAYS. In short (yeah, right) your best audience all boils down to what kind of performer you are. Take a look and see - then get out there and give it a shot.

A very Interesting story, and you made a good point.

Thankz

Dan

Dan's response killed the long post syndrome which came over me, but I (ATM) would say adults, bacuse kids seem to always have a reasonable explanation, adults try to decipher what happenned using past experiences or findings, whereas children seem to make it up on the spot. I'm not saying they (always) get it right, but some of their explanations are very handy for developing your handlings. In conclusion ( ), I think children are useful for your trick's benefit, but adults are better for your reception's (as in receiving, not office ) performance

Adults for me everytime. Much better and more fun

Sorry Demitri. Really couldn't be bothered to read your essay lol. Only joking. I'll read it later.

But as for me, I prefer working with 14+ because that's usually the age that actually understands the tricks that I do because I tend to work with sleight of hand tricks.

StEvEbO!